Ice-can lifter



July 8, 1020. l 1.500003 T. $HIPLEY "ICE CAN LIFTER Filed Dec. 10 1923 :1 r mum i s Patented July 8, 1924.

, THOMAS SHIPLEY, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE-CAN LIFTER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs SHIPLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Can Lifter s, of which the cation. r

This invention relates to hoisting apparatus and particularly to devices for handling freezing cans in ice plants, and known in the trade as ice can lifters. I The object of the invention is to provide a device which is easily engaged in the lifter holes in the can, which may be automatically disengaged by simply lowering the hoist, and which is so designed as to preclude rotation of the can ona vertical axis. W

This last is a feature of the utmost imfollowing is a specifiportance, particularly where the lifters are -mounted ingangs on a cross bar so as to permit several cans to be withdrawn from i or inserted into the brine tank at one time.

- A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the can lifter with one side plate removed to show the internal construction; I

Fig; 2 is an .end View of the complete 1 device looking to the left relatively to Fig.

line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

1, and 7 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the A supporting bar a plurality of canlifters (only one such lifter 'being shown in the drawing), and the bar 5 is connected in any usual manner with a hoist. The use of a plurality of can lifters on a single member of this type is familiar in the art and consequently is .not illustrated. I Y i The means for connecting each can lifter to the bar 5 includes a clevis 6, a bolt 7 passing through the clevis 6 and the bar 5,

' a rigid link 8 suspended from clevis 6, and

a second clevis 9 suspended from the link 8. The parts are sodesigned as to permit the link 8 and the clevises 6 andI9 to swing in the vertical plane of the bar 5 but to registry of each lifted'can with the openings in th cov nstructure of the brine t nk.

5 is provided to carry.

Application filed December 10, 1923. Serial No. 679,791.

The clevis 9 is provided with openings which have at their lower sides grooves or V-shaped notches indicated at 10, and the clevis 9 supports a trunnion 11 rigidly fixed in a hook actuating plate 12. The openings in the clevis 9 are substantially larger than the trunnions 11, and the purpose of this construction is to permit slight rotation of the can lifter about the vertical axis when not under load. This permits the operator to engage a plurality of lifters on the bar 5 with a plurality of cans, even if these cans be not in strict alignment. As soon as the cans are lifted clear of their support,

the trunnions 11 will automatically align themselves with the V-notches 10.

The actuator plate 12 is pivoted on a bolt 13, extending between two side plates 14,

and the angular movement of the actuator is limited by means of a bolt 15 which passes through an arcuate slot 16 in the member 12. p

Mounted between the plates 14, at one end.

thereof, is a fixed hook member 17, having a projecting hook or finger 18 designed to engage the can through the usual hole formed "therein. This hook member 17 is held by a bolt 19 and pin 20, whose construction will befurther described.

Mounted between the side plates 14, near their opposite ends, is a movable hook mempber 21 which also has a hook or finger 22 similar to the finger 18. This hook member 21 is pivoted ona bolt 23 and is connected with the actuator 12 by means of'a link 24 formed of plate, and having circular enlargements25 .at its ends. These circular enlargements 25 engage 1110110111211 seats formed to receive them in the members 12 and 21. The link 24 is confined between the side plates 14 and is thus held in engagement with the actuator 12 and hook member 21. The actuator 12 is urged toits normal position, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, by means of a bow spring 26, which, at one end, encircles a pin 27 extending between the plates 14and which, at the other end, is sustained by a similar pin 28.

The bolts 13, 15, 19, and 23. are reduced at their threaded ends to provide shoulders, against which the nuts seat, so that the bolts do not act to clamp the side plates 14 together upon the actuator 12, hook member 21, and link 24.

Thepins 20, 27, and 28 are formed with inembei 219 plates 14, the middle or lar e diameter portion f these pins being o l "siicli'leii'gtli 'as properly to space the side plates 14.

The actuator 12- iS brovi-ded Witha handle 29, and on the opposite side of the trunnion 11 is formed with an upstandingguard or stop 30. g

To engage the lifter with a can, the hoist is first lowered to the proper position. The operator then grasps the handle 29 and forces it down tottlie pdsition shownii dotn dii in F 1: his wit-L ng t f 'h' th n en a es he he' 18 on the member'l7 inpn'e cairliolegalig is the hookmemberfl with the oppo site banhole,

' and release stile handle 29. "It will be obsustained .by the hoist, the d'raft on the actu-' served that when tlielwei lit (sf-the can is 'ato r l2 acts iiiaintain the'inoi' ableliook in can engaging position. Under such conditions, the 'lo'ad i nl divided between the bolts 13 and 1 which-are symmetrically arranged and are spaced far "enough apart to support plates 14 in decidedly stable equilibrium. lThiistlie load the can tends to hold the hooks in engagement; when the p can hanging straight, and also when the can is swung to side ibylateralisho'cks sustained the ZS uch are not unusual and the'tendenr'xy of priorfdifters to release under such shocks is commonly known'de fect of such/lifters, which present invention overcomes.

" fte th ca has ,b en ev ed o so a upp it i p ss ble is seng ge t lif from the canautomatically 'merely'by continued lowering of the hoist. i .Tlie 0 causes the clevis 9 and link 8 to fall toward the'handle 29and the weight oi theseparts i 511011 a o e rp i e t fsprille' 2, a retract the hook 22. iThejliiter will then fall clear of the can holes, and can be/hoisted awa leavin the can in osition.

The lifter is constructedfefilinostentirely .of plates and bar stock andcan be fabrielu d a rla ve ysina xp ns lfii s rewfi ly e ra le were it i easily stag and disengaged, and "because" it maintains the l men o t e an; eture s i culiar mp ta le Whe e a p y e ity el lif e m unte in a a n' ne rppri in bar. i

fV Qu s ruct al wdi eat ns are 1 9 s le- T e impelfta l ment e'f th 91 binaitioin e ram Sne is l a' c mposeof the plates 14 i df h f mat ng pl i sai olts; a P ir of r at s y' mbyabl ei ing members carri d by the i'fli i ime {$09118 ombined mea s for suspending the If i a d awa t ng th a enge ll imel'iibp sis bers relatively movable toward and from each other;combined suspending and actuating means for said frame arranged to move said members in can engaging direction, under the load or a suspended can; stop means limiting such movement; yield ing means arranged to urge said members iii can engaging direction; and a part associated" with" the suspending means arranged to overpower said yielding means by its weight when lowered.

12 In an ice can litter; the combination of a frame carrying can engaging hooksfat leastoiie of whi ch is 'pivoted to the frame so that the hooks'may'be moved relatively toward and from each other; a supporting member for I said frame mounted for limited movement therein and operativelly connected to produce relative movement of "the hooks in an engaging directioifiby' the weight of the frame and parts carried thereby; a spring assisting such movement; and suspending means'foi? said supporting member, adapted to engage'and move said member in opposition to the action of said sprin when lowered against the same.

3. in an ice can lifter; the combination of aframe carrying a fixed hoolrand a pivotedhook; asuppor'tin member; for said frame pivoted therein and operative'lyconne'cted with said pivoted hook'to move the same in engaging direction underthe weight of the frame and parts carried thereby"; a urging said member and hook in engaging direction; a stop limiting such motion; and a suspending member for said supporting member "capable of being lowered against said supporting member' and bf'moving' the same by" its we ght against connected together; a pair oi" boiks mountedbetween said plates, one hookbeing fixed andthe other pivoted; a fsupportihg member for said frame mounted if'or limite d "movement between said platesfa link avi n a ged r ilare e sockets insaid member and pivoted hook, an 'cbnfinss he veens d" P at s Saidqihk farm n e perat e ect n th eb th Wei t o a dir me lige T ei i e aud swamp; ang e sreniiins m e 'f s sett r-ting memberfan b e" bein i rediipon hei'latter to'move the 1 5s l b tab-sa d spring i e pan 1 1 sem n rianof a Twine 'cbmp ldf P ilsparted 11" e gaging di ee oril; spa eg e i t plates connected together; a pair of hooks mounted between said plates, one hook being fixed and the other pivoted; a supporting member for said frame, pivoted between the plates thereof; stop means limiting the angular movement of said supporting member; a link having enlargedoiroular ends engaged in sockets in said member and the pivoted hook, and confined between said plates, said link forming an operative connection whereby the weight of said frame urges said hooks in engaging direction; a spring mounted between said plates and assisting such movement; suspending means for saidsupporting member pivoted thereto and capable of being lowered into contact therewith and when so lowered to move said member by the Weight of the suspending means in opposition to said spring.

6. In an ice can lifter, the combination of a frame carrying a fixed hook and a pivoted hook; a supporting member for said frame pivoted thereto and operatively con nected with said pivoted hook to move the same in engaging direction under the weight of the frame and the parts sustained thereby; a spring urging said member in hook engaging direction; a stop engaging said suporting member and limiting such motion, said stop and the pivot of the supporting member being constructed and arranged to sustain said frame in stable equilibrium, and to divide the load. thereof approximately evenly between them; and a suspending member for said supporting member. e

7. In an ice can lifter, the combination of a frame carrying a fixed hook and a pivoted hook; a supporting member for said frame pivoted therein and operatively connected'with said pivoted hook to move the same in engaging direction under the Weight of the frame and parts carried thereby; a spring urging said member and hook in engaging direction; a stop limiting such motion; and a suspending member for said supporting member constructed and arranged to permit rotation of said frame about a vertical axis when said suspending member is relieved of stress, and to resist such rotation when it is stressed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

" THOMAS SI-IIPLEY. 

